How Teams Obtained Their Opening Day Starters

The 30 Opening Day starters aren't the 30 best pitchers in the game, but their managers do consider them the best arms currently available. Here's a list of the pitchers who got the Opening Day nod this year and how their current teams acquired them (note that many have since signed extensions that delayed their arrival on the free agent market):

Draft Picks (12)

Stephen Strasburg, Nationals – Selected in the first round of the 2009 draft (1st overall).

Justin Verlander, Tigers – Selected in the first round of the 2004 draft (2nd overall).

Ricky Romero, Blue Jays – Selected in the first round of the 2005 draft (6th overall).

Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers – Selected in the first round of the 2006 draft (7th overall).

Tim Lincecum, Giants – Selected in the first round of the 2006 draft (10th overall).

Jered Weaver, Angels – Selected in the first round of the 2004 draft (12th overall).

He originally signed as a free agent with the Cubs in January of 2004, was granted free agency after the 2008 season, and resigned with the Cubs a few weeks later. So technically, the Cubs acquired him in 2008 (although it can go back to 2004).